RoadVitals

1998 GMC GMC Truck

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest May 30, 2007
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

Overview

Our database contains 10 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 GMC GMC Truck, most frequently naming the brakes, electrical and engine categories. 5 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Brakes325.0%
  • Electrical18.3%
  • Engine18.3%
  • Fuel system18.3%
  • Exterior lighting18.3%
  • Suspension18.3%
  • Tires & wheels18.3%
  • Transmission18.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Brakes
Filed May 30, 2007

THIRD TIME I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE BRAKE LIGHT STOP SWITCH REPLACED ON MY 1998 GMC TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10192078
Incident
May 30, 2007
Mileage
50,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Aug 9, 2005

THE WIND SHIELD WIPERS ARE DOING THE EXACT SAME THING AS THE 1995 AND 96 GMC SIERRA TRUCKS. I DRIVE A 1998 GMC SO YOU THINK THEY WOULD HAVE FIGURED THIS OUT BY NOW. MY WIPERS WILL WORK OCCASIONALLY BUT NOT WHEN YOU REALLY NEED THEM. I KNOW ITS NOT THE MOTOR BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN CHECKED OUT. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF GMC WOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ID
10132140
Incident
Jun 15, 2005
ElectricalExterior lightingTires & wheels
Filed Jan 16, 2004

FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WENT INTO 4 LOW, BY ITSELF, GOING AT 60MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, WIPERS HAVE MALFUNCTIONED FOR THE THIRD TIME IN ONE YEARS TIME, NO TURN SIGNALS/BACKUP LIGHT- CAN'T BE FIXED BY DEALER-FOUND NOTHING WRONG, CALLED GMC WHICH OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE DUE TO IT BEING A USED VEHICLE. THEY FELT IT WAS RELATED TO PREVIOUS DRIVER. THE BRAKES WILL GRAB AND LOCK UP WHEN YOU FIRST DRIVE IT. YOU BETTER HAVE YOUR SEAT BELT ON BECAUSE YOU WILL BE PUT INTO THE DASH WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I DO NOT FEEL THE PREVIOUS DRIVER IS THE CAUSE IN THIS SITUATION. VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE FOR BOTH MY FAMILY AND OTHER DRIVERS. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS TRUCK TO OTHERS. YOUR HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED IN THIS MATTER. THANK YOU. THE DATE I AM REQUIRED TO SELECT IS NOT APPROPRIATE IN THIS SITUATION BECAUSE IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. *CB

NHTSA ID
10054277
Incident
Jan 1, 2003
Transmission
Filed Dec 4, 2003

I PURCHASED A USED 1998 GMC EXTEND-CAB 4X4 PICK-UP HERE IN TN.. I HAVE HAD VERY GOOD SERVICE FROM IT UNTIL I MADE A TRIP 2 1/2 HRS. FROM MY HOME. WHEN I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION I PARKED THE TRUCK, VISITED FOR AWHILE. WHEN I WAS PREPARING TO MAKE THE TRIP BACK I STARTED MY TRUCK AND AS I PUT IT IN REVERSE I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE TO CLANKS COMING FROM THE REAR, THE PERSON I WAS VISITING ALSO HEARD IT FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. WHEN THIS HAPPENED I COULDN'T GET THE TRUCK TO MOVE, SO WE HAD TO PHYSICALLY MOVE IT OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE DRIVE. AFTER SOME TIME I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET IT OUT ONTO THE HIGHWAY WHERE I WAS ABLE TO GET THE TRUCK TO MOVE ONLY BY GIVING IT JUST A LITTLE GAS AND THEN LETTING UP JUST ENOUGH SO THAT THE GEARS WOULD CHANGE, THIS I HAD TO DO ALL THE WAY HOME AND THEN TO GET IT TO A GARAGE. I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION, WELL I FIGURED THAT THE TRUCK WAS NOT OLD ENOUGH TO NEED A TRANSMISSION SINCE IT ONLY HAD SOMEWHERE AROUND 65,000 MILES ON IT AND HAD BEEN VERY WELL TAKEN CARE OF BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER AND MYSELF. THE GARAGE LOOKED INTO RECALLS FOR THAT SPECIFIC MAKE AND MODEL OF TRUCK AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE HAD BEEN RECALLS FOR IT BUT NOT ON MINE BECAUSE IT WAS BUILT IN ANOTHER PLACE, NOW THIS SOUNDS RIDICULOUS TO ME, BUT DON'T KNOW HOW OR WHERE TO BEGIN TO FIND OUT ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I HAVE SINCE HAD TO PUT A NEW TRANSMISSION IN THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE I NEEDED MY TRANSPORTATION. I AM HOPING YOU CAN ADVISE ON THIS SITUATION OR AT LEAST POINT ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THANK YOU, [XXX]. *NLM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10049201
Incident
Sep 1, 2003
Mileage
70,184 mi
Body & structure
Filed Apr 29, 2003

WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT BECAUSE THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL "BOWED" OUTWARD. THE DEALER INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED THAT VEHICLE'S FRAME HAD BROKEN AT THE CROSSMEMBER. THE FRAME HAD PREVIOUSLY CRACKED ON 03/15/02, BUT WAS REPAIRED BY WELDING. VEHICLE IS A 1998 GMC 3/4 TON HEAVY PICK-UP TRUCK. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10017779
Incident
Apr 15, 2003
Mileage
76,769 mi
Fuel system
Filed Dec 9, 2002

THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD & MANIFOLD GASKET CRACKED LEAKING HIGHPRESSURED ANTIFREEZE INTO THE CYLINDERS CREATING A VAPOR LOCK, AND THE ENGINE DIED. BECAUSE OF THE VAPOR LOCK THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START IN NEUTRAL, GIVING ME NO POWER STEERING AND NO POWER BRAKES!!!!! THIS JUST ABOUT CAUSED A 20 -25 CAR PILE UP WITH 3-5 SEMI TRUCKS. THIS IS THE 4TH TIME AND I AM HAVING TO PAY FOR THESE LEMON LAW VIOLATIONS, LET ALONE THE SAFETY OF DRIVERS WORLDWIDE!! GM SHOULD BE FORCED TO FIX THIS MAJOR DEFECTIVE PART AND RE-IMBURSE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN TO THEM. THERE IS A CONCERTED EFFORT ON THE INTERNET WITH ALMOST 1,100 SIGNATURES OF THIS INTAKE MANIFOLD PROBLEM. THIS SAFETY HAZARD NEEDS TO BE EXAMINED AND ALL WARRANTY COMPANY'S AND CLAIMS NEED TO BE REVIEWED TO SEE HOW BAD THE SAFETY HAZARD IS. I HOPE THIS "OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION OF THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD & MANIFOLD GASKET DEFECT" IS TAKEN AS A SERIOUS THREAT TO HUMAN LIVES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, AND THE NHTSA WILL INTERVENE SO THERE ARE NO LIVES LOST, BECAUSE "YOU, NHTSA, HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED " OF THE SAFETY CONCERNS!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS IS "SERIOUS SAFETY" WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AND CONCERNS ANYONE WHO HAS BOUGHT A 3.1, 3.4 OR 3.8 L ENGINE FROM GM (WHICH INCLUDES ALL BUICK, CHEVY, OLDS, PONTIAC, ETC..) THANK YOU, [XXX] DT INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
770646
Incident
Dec 3, 2002
Brakes
Filed Aug 5, 2002

ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WAS FAULTY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75% OF THE TIME, THE BRAKES WILL NOT STOP VEHICLE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED BY DEALER WHO COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER HAS UNHOOKED THE ABS SYSTEM, AND STATED THAT THE NORMAL BRAKES WORK FINE. *AK *SCC

NHTSA ID
8015558
Incident
Mar 1, 1999
Engine
Filed Jul 8, 2002

I WAS TOLD BY GMC SERVICE TECHNICIAN THAT A CORRODED COOLING NIPPLE WAS A COMMON FAILURE, THAT HE HAD "SEEN IT TOO MANY TIMES". ALSO VERIFIED WITH INDEPENDENT GARAGE THAT THIS WAS A COMMON MALFUNCTION, SUPRISED NO TSB HAD BEEN ISSUED.*AK

NHTSA ID
763920
Incident
Jul 8, 2002

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

SB-06-02-32-013B

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP

SAAB/HUMMER/GM: DIAGNOSTIC TIPS/RECOMMENDATIONS WHEN POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACEMENT IS NECESSARY. ANALYSIS OF RETURNED POWER STEERING (PS) PUMPS THAT HAD BEEN REPLACED FOR NOISE, NO POWER ASSIST, NO OR LOW PRESSURE AND LEAKING CONDITIONS HAS INDICATED A HIGH NUMBER OF NO TROUBLE FOUND RESULTS. ALL 1997-2010 VEHICLES AND LIGHT TRUCKS; 2010 AND PRIOR HUMMERS H2/H3 AND SAAB 9-7X VEHICLES. *PE

121202

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

NEW TRANSMISSION OIL COOLING SYSTEM FLUSHING TOOL. 1998 AND 2003 CHEVROLET AND GMC MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 4L80E AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. *TT

000138004

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ON INTERMITTENT AIR CONDITIONING (A/C) SYSTEM OPERATION. *TT

99107

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

CERTAIN U-VANS MAY EXHIBIT THE POWER SLIDING DOOR NOT OPERATING IN POWER MODE AND / OR ALMOST FULLY CLOSING THEN CONSISTENTLY REVERSES TO THE FULL OPEN POSITION. *TT

99016

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

CUSTOMER SATISIFCATION CAMPAIGN REGARDING POWER SLIDING DOOR OPERATION. *TT

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

GMC GMC Truck by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2003180026.5
2002900
2001200
2000130033.4
1999130028.4
1998Viewing100034.6
1997800
1996700
1994900
1991200
1990100
1989100
1987200
1986200
1983100
1975000
1974300

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.